Musician Ludi Hinrichs is no stranger to unusual and unique music. For the last 45 years he has been intrigued and drawn to sounds of cultures from all across the planet, especially those of Asia, Australia and the Far East.

“After classical piano and trombone studies at a St. Louis conservatory and jazz composition at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, the search for essential music was not over for me,” said Hinrichs.

One year later Hinrichs found himself on a remote part of Vancouver Island with a mathematician-composer named John Greyson, learning musical ratios, building a monochord (a sort of universal tuner, as used by Pythagoros in the 4th century B.C.E.) and holding workshops for the local school kids who would come to a converted barn to discover wondrous oversized musical playground toys that Greyson had built under a Canadian Arts Council grant.

All of this was deeply transforming, and little did Hinrichs realize that some of the other pioneers in this field, to whom he was exposed, would later become teachers and collaborators. These included three composers: Lou Harrison, La Monte Young, and Terry Riley.

“For me, the gist of these experiences was that, no, these ancient sounds and efforts haven’t disappeared into the dustbins of the ‘modern era’,” said Hinrichs, “but are accessible, usable and awaiting an appreciative listener!”

Hinrichs feels the purpose and use of most contemporary music has turned towards entertainment and distraction, and that in times past this apparently was not the case. The possibilities for frequency healing and self-discovery via musical means may have been on the “front burner.” There were many choices before modern developments like the universal system we now use called “equal temperament” limited and oversimplified those natural tunings.

Musicians Joe Fajen and Bill Douglass—well known to Bay Area and Nevada County music audiences for their many contributions—will be joining Hinrichs in bringing tonings, tunings and melodies from our deep heritage to the North Columbia Schoolhouse.

“It is one of the most resonant chambers in the area,” said Hinrichs of the North Columbia Schoolhouse, “and the room is perfect for the flutes, harps and other horns and strings they will bring. Voice harmonics (tonings) are also beautiful in the schoolhouse and will be a part of the performance”.

Bassist and flutist Bill Douglass adds: “I feel very lucky to explore toning and tuning with Ludi and Joe. Very deep, and useful for all of us. And we want to share our explorations with others.” A few select jazz pieces inspired by Thelonious Monk will compliment the evening’s journey.